The Assurance of Eternal Life – Why Do So Many Reject It?

By: Mike Gendron; ©2003

Can Christians who sin lose their salvation? Opponents of assurance focus on man’s failures rather than on God’s divine power. Such misunderstandings can be overcome by discarding human reason and accepting divine revelation. Faith should not rest on the wisdom of man but on the power of God.

 

The Assurance of Eternal Life—Why Do So Many Reject It?

Several years ago a pastor in Pennsylvania, concerned for the salvation of the many Roman Catholics in his community, invited me to come up and teach a seminar. First he asked me to send some of our publications so he could become more familiar with our ministry. After reviewing our Gospel tracts, he called me to cancel the seminar because he discovered that I teach the assurance of salvation. I explained to him that assurance is what makes God’s plan of salvation “good news.” God promises to save forever those who come to Him through Jesus (Heb. 7:25). I asked him what good news do you have to share with Catholics if you preach eternal life is not everlasting but can be lost? Catholics already adhere to a “maybe” salvation that depends on what they do rather than what God has done through Jesus Christ. After many exchanges, this pastor was unwilling to believe God’s promise, that everyone who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus shall be brought to glory.

Those who reject the doctrine of eternal security tend to place more emphasis on the subjective experiences of “professing” Christians than the objective truth of Scripture. They may know someone who was baptized, repeated a prayer or responded to an altar call, then later rejected the faith or turned to a life of habitual sin. These experiences become their proof that salvation has no assurance. But is there any way to know if these people were born again? Judging someone’s spiritual condition is risky because no one can see a person’s heart. Opponents of assurance focus on man’s failures rather than on God’s divine power. Such misunderstandings can be overcome by discarding human reason and accepting divine revelation. Faith should not rest on the wisdom of man but on the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5).

Consider the Word “Eternal”

The “eternal” Gospel (Rev. 14:6) of our “eternal” God (Rom. 16:26) promises every believer “eternal” life (1 John 5:13) and “eternal” glory (1 Pet. 5:10) in His “eternal” kingdom (2 Pet. 1:11). The “eternal” King (1 Tim. 1:16) called salvation “eternal” (Mark 16:20) be­cause He has given believers “eternal” comfort (2 Thes. 2:16) by obtaining “eternal” re­demption through the “eternal” Spirit who guarantees an “eternal” inheritance (Heb. 9:12- 15; Eph. 1:14). According to God’s “eternal” purpose (Eph. 3:11), every believer has been saved from “eternal” judgment (Heb. 6:2), “eternal” destruction (2 Thes. 1:9) and “eternal” punishment in the “eternal” fire (Mat. 25:41, 46).

Eternal life is not only an infinite quantity of time (people in hell will live forever), but an eternal quality of life. It is an intimate relationship with Jesus whereby His life and divine nature is placed in every believer and every believer is in Him (2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 5:20). This life begins at the second birth when those who were dead in their sins are made alive in Christ (Eph. 2:4). Eternal life is everlasting because the very life of Christ (who can never die again) has been imparted to believers (Rom. 6:9). But this leads to a provocative ques­tion. Knowing that sin is what brings spiritual death to the soul, what keeps Christians from dying again when they sin after their conversion? The apostle Paul gives the answer. It is because God no longer counts sins against those who have trusted Jesus as their substi­tute (Rom. 4:8; 2 Cor. 5:21). God laid all their sins, past and future, on Jesus (Isaiah 53:6). Our kinsman redeemer “bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24). “With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12). Everyone redeemed has been bought with the precious blood of Jesus and now belongs to Him. Eternal redemption and eternal security are thus one and the same.

Those who reject eternal security must explain why they do not also reject everything else described as eternal, such as the eternal triune God and His punishment for unbeliev­ers. They must also be able to answer—with Scripture—some other relevant questions. Can those who have been redeemed from under the curse of the law be placed back under it (Gal. 3:13; 4:5)? Can one, who has been born again of incorruptible seed, die again (1 Pet. 1:23)? Can a new creation return to what has passed away (2 Cor. 5:17)? Can one who has been perfected forever be found imperfect (Heb. 10:14)? Can those whom God delivered from the power of darkness be sent back (Col. 1:13)? Can those who have been made complete in Christ become incomplete (Col. 2:10)? Can those who were saved without merit or human effort be lost because of demerits or human failure (Eph. 2:8-9)? Does any man have the ability to undo a sovereign act of Almighty God (Rom. 8:28-39)?

Consider the Promises of Jesus

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life (John 5:24). “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28). Jesus also promises never to cast out or lose anyone that His Father gives Him (John 6:37, 39). The promises of Jesus to all believers are clear and are guaran­teed by His divine power and attributes. Having received eternal life, the sheep will follow the Shepherd who will keep them and protect them. Jesus promises they will never be judged for their sins, will not experience spiritual death, shall not perish and will never be cast out or lost. How can Christians say they trust Jesus and not believe His promises?

Consider the Father’s Role with the Spirit

God the Father has caused His children to be born again to a living hope. They are now protected by His power and will obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and reserved for them in heaven (1 Pet. 1:3-5). This inheritance has been securely guaranteed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:11-14). The Father, who calls believers into fellowship with His Son, is faithful and will confirm them until the end (1 Cor. 1:8,9). He promises to glorify those He justifies (Rom 8:30). God’s children have this assurance: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). On that spectacular day, all believers will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). Everyone who has trusted Christ can have the same confidence as Paul who wrote: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

Consider the Nature of God’s Gifts

Believers also have the assurance that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). The amazing gifts God gives to repentant sinners include eternal life (Rom. 6:23), the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45) and the righteousness of Jesus (Rom. 5:17). Those who have received these gifts will never again be separated from God and never come into judgment for their sins. Opponents of assurance will say that people can give back the gifts or throw them away. But where is the Scriptural support for this? God has credited the gift of righteousness to the believer’s account. Does man have access to God’s books to change His accounting?

Consider God’s Chastening of His Sons

The Lord knows those who are His and everyone who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity (2 Tim. 2:19). But what does God do with any of His children who persist in sinning? He chastens them, as a loving Father, so they will not be condemned along with the world (1 Cor. 11:32). God’s chastening has a purifying effect on those who do not judge themselves. His discipline will continue until there is repentance or until He calls them home. Those who fall away or fall into habitual sin without God’s chastening were never His children (Heb. 12:6-9).

The Roman Catholic Catechism (CCC) teaches that Catholics lose their salvation when mortal sins are committed (CCC, para. 1035). Catholics must do works of penance and merit enough grace to regain their salvation (CCC, para. 1456, 2027). Needless to say, Catholics can never be sure about their eternal destiny because, whenever man is involved in attaining and/or preserving his salvation, there can never be assurance. However, when man forsakes all efforts to save himself and believes the objective truth of the Gospel, he will be more certain of living eternally in heaven than one more day on earth. There is no way a mortal man can do maintenance on an eternal gift from God. Paul wrote, “For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all” (Rom. 4:16).

John wrote his first epistle to those “who believe on the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know [Gk. oida] you have eternal life (1 John 5:13). The Greek word “oida” refers to a positive, absolute knowledge. True believers can rejoice in their salvation with absolute certainty and peace. The question for professing Christians is not “Will God will keep His promises?” but “Have I been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone?” This means forsaking all other attempts at salvation through sacraments, good works, indulgences, purgatory, the sacrifice of the Mass, obeying the Law and the intercession of Mary.

There is Assurance When Salvation is of God

The Father calls and draws men according to His purpose and grace (John 6:44; 2 Tim. 1:9)

The Spirit convicts the world of sin, judgment and righteousness (Jn. 16:8-11)

The Son is proclaimed as the only Savior of the world (Acts 4:12). His Word of truth set captives free (John 8:32)

God grants sinners repentance and gives them the gift of faith unto salvation (2 Tim. 2:25; Eph. 2:8)

The Son exchanges the believer’s sin for His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). His blood cleanses all the believer’s sins (1 John 1:7). If the believer sins, He is their advocate (1 John 2:1)

The Spirit regenerates, seals, indwells, intercedes, teaches and empowers the believer (Titus 3:5; Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:26; 1 John 2:27)

The Father protects, justifies and glorifies the believer (1 Pet. 1:5; Rom. 8:30)

There is No Assurance When Salvation is of Man

The priest baptizes with water which is said to wash away original sin and regenerate Catholics as children of God (1213)

The priest is said to have the power to impart the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Confirmation (1302).

The priest is said to have the power to forgive sins through the sacrament of penance (986)

The sinner can perform acts of charity (1394) or earn indulgences (1471) to have sins forgiven

The priest is said to have the power to call the Lord Jesus down from heaven to re­present Him as a sacrificial victim for the sins of the living and the dead (1367)

The priest is said to offer the Lord Jesus Christ to Catholics in the Eucharistic wafer (1374)

The priest performs last rites for Catholics for the forgiveness of their sins and to prepare them for eternity (1532)